a blog about the goings on in a classroom of 5 and 6 year olds
(with some pretty cool photos)

Thursday, 29 September 2011

in the style of one of the great masters - picasso

Take a look at this painting.

It is a famous painting by the famous artist Picasso. It is a painting of his son Paul, when he was a small boy. A small boy of about your age, actually!

And now look at this painting.

This too was painted by Picasso. It is an (of-not-on) self-portrait.

I wonder. What are the differences between the two paintings?

Tanisha starts us off. The (of-not-on) ‘self-portrait is not wearing a hat’.

Tim notices the lines. The ‘self’ has ‘lines on the face’. Yes; so it does. Thick black lines. The portrait of the son is much more fine and delicate.

Melchior notices the colours. The (of-not-on) self-portrait is more ’yellow’.

Alexis notices the shapes. The son ‘has a round or oval face’ he tells us.

And Mélina tells us that the portrait of the son looks ‘more real; more like a real person’.

Now look at what happens to Picasso’s portraits. Ooh er!

Weird huh!

OK. Keep that odd picture in your mind. Got it? Good!

Now let’s get on with our art lesson. Today’s task is to draw two (of-not-on) self-portraits. Two! On two different shades of ‘sugar paper’ using your choice of oil pastel colours. You might need to check whereabouts your features are using a mirror.

Although the portraits should both be similar (they are both (of-not-on) you after all!) it doesn’t matter if there are differences between them.

Next, use watercolours…..

to colour your face and hair.

Stop briefly to admire all your hard work. And to allow the paint to dry.